By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
During the early July flooding event, Lake Travis Fire Rescue opened the emergency evacuation route for the first time to assist residents of the Mount View community to provide safe ingress and egress.
“This is the first time the emergency evacuation route has been used for an emergency or natural disaster,” shared Robert Abbott, LTFR chief. “We’re thankful to have this alternate route available. The road is a critical resource for our community.”
The emergency access road remained open for approximately 20 to 24 hours, which was the duration that the primary low-water crossing was flooded and deemed unsafe for travel, according to LTFR. Once water levels receded and the crossing was deemed safe for travel, the emergency route was closed.
LTFR does not have an exact count of the number of individuals who used the road during this event, but it served its purpose as a safe and temporary access point for the affected communities, according to LTFR.
The emergency evacuation route is intended for use during critical incidents when primary roadways are inaccessible, such as during flash floods, wildfires, or other emergencies. The decision to open the gates is made by first responders on the scene, who assess conditions in real-time. When public safety is at risk due to compromised access, the evacuation route offers an alternative for residents and emergency personnel.
“This road was built specifically for emergencies, and during this recent flooding event, it functioned exactly as intended,” Abbott shared. “When the primary route became unsafe due to high water, we were able to quickly open the emergency evacuation road, ensuring continued access for residents.”
Fire officials coordinated the opening of the route with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, which barricaded the low-water crossing when water levels rose to unsafe levels.
“We coordinated closely with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and County officials on both the opening and closure of the road,” Abbott shared.